Tight Security At INEC Office In Lagos As Election Materials Arrive

Security was tight at the Lagos State Headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Yaba on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 as the commission took delivery of sensitive election materials.

Nigeria is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on February 16.

The country returned to popular democracy in 1999 after a brutal military era that left infrastructure in ruins.

A News Agency of Nigeria political correspondent at the INEC office reports that security was tight, with heavy presence of security operatives.

Nobody was allowed into the premises of the Commission without proper identification, with security officials subjecting people to rigorous screening.

Many visitors and some reporters were barred from entering the premises, while workers of the Commission were thoroughly screened before being allowed to enter their offices.

Speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak with the media, one of the security operatives told NAN that his men were told not to allow anybody into the premises.

Speaking to NAN on phone, the Lagos INEC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Femi Akinbiyi, said that officials of the Commission had started receiving election materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

On Tuesday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Lagos, Mr. Sam Olumekun, told a stakeholders meeting that the Commission would be taking delivery of the materials as from Wednesday.